Thanks to favourable weather conditions, the farmers in the district are anticipating a bumper maize yield this year, which has already exceeded the production target set by the district’s Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
Local DAE sources said they had set the target for maize cultivation this year at 7,780 hectares, out of which 2,550 hectares is in the sadar upazila, 35 hectares is in Khoksa upazila, 330 hectares is in Kumarkhali upazila, 1,380 hectares is in Mirpur upazila, 330 hectares is in Bheramara upazila and 3,850 hectares is in Daulatpur upazila.
But to their surprise, they exceeded the target at 8,475 hectares.
Regan Ali, a farmer of Gopalpur village of Chithlia union, expanded his farmland for maize cultivation, as it required minimal capital.
Abdul Hye, another farmer from the same village, was eyeing bumper maize cultivation as well. “As the maize plants were not affected by any disease so far, I can only hope of better profit than last year,” he remarked.
Mahtab Ali, a farmer from Fulbaria village, said crop diseases seldom affect corn, which is why he cultivates them on two hectares.
Bhushan Sarkar, deputy director at the district DAE office, said the bumper maize cultivation this year was a result of collective efforts.
The agriculture official also believed that the incentives provided by them played an important part in the increased interest among the farmers.